Preview: Red Wings at Sabres

November 23, 2013|Reuters

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Preview: Red Wings at Sabres

The Detroit Red Wings have dropped eight of their last nine outings (1-3-5), but Sunday's road tilt against the Buffalo Sabres could be just what the doctor ordered. After all, Detroit improved to 9-1-1 in its last 11 games versus Buffalo after skating to a season-opening 2-1 triumph on Oct 2. Pavel Datsyuk scored in that game and also had a goal in Saturday's 4-2 loss versus Ottawa, but the Russian will miss Sunday's matchup after taking an elbow to the head from defenseman Jared Cowen.

While Detroit suffered its ninth loss in 10 games (1-2-7) at Joe Louis Arena, Buffalo has no plans for a parade with its 2-9-1 record at home. The Sabres have scored just four goals in losing their last three games and have an NHL-low 43 tallies this season. Defenseman Tyler Myers netted his team's lone goal in Buffalo's 4-1 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), MSG-B (Buffalo)

ABOUT THE RED WINGS (10-7-7): With Jimmy Howard falling to 0-3-4 in his last seven starts, Jonas Gustavsson receives the call for the latter half of the back-to-back set. The towering Swede hasn't been given much offensive support en route to posting a 1-3-2 career mark with a shutout versus the Sabres. Stephen Weiss returned from a six-game absence with a groin injury to log over 11 minutes of ice time on Saturday.

ABOUT THE SABRES (5-18-1): Defenseman Alexander Sulzer received his second recall from Rochester of the American Hockey League and will likely play alongside Christian Ehrhoff in Sunday's contest. "We had pretty good chemistry last year when we played together and I hope we can continue that," Sulzer said. Coach Ted Nolan hopes the 29-year-old Sulzer can provide both leadership and stability on the relatively young Sabres club.

OVERTIME

1. Buffalo, which has been outscored 31-4 in the first period, has not enjoyed a lead after the first 20 minutes in any of its 23 games this season.

2. Detroit veteran Daniel Alfredsson will return from a five-game absence with a groin injury to play on Sunday.

3. Sabres C Cody McCormick suffered an upper-body injury on Thursday and is expected to be sidelined for one week, Nolan said.